Pyro Peppers gave me a sample of a safi (scotch) bonnet pepper. Pyro Peppers has various greenhouse-grown peppers in Langley, British Columbia, Canada. I must confess the peppers grown by them are beautifully grown, and are wonderfully tasting peppers. So, thank you for your contributions.
What is a Safi Bonnet Pepper?
The safi bonnet pepper is an African strain of the scotch bonnet pepper. Specifically, the safi bonnet pepper is originally from West Africa.
The safi Bonnet pepper is also known as the safi scotch bonnet pepper.
According to The Hippy Seed Company, the safi bonnet pepper is renowned for its prolific yield, and they are initially light green, they ripen to a deep red hue, boasting dense medium green foliage on plants just under a meter high. The Safi Scotch Bonnet Orange Pepper is named after its resemblance to a Scottish bonnet.
Fatalli Seeds (fatalliseeds.net) – an online seed company – states that the Scotch Bonnet Safi is a vibrant variant of the Scotch Bonnet pepper.
The Safi Bonnet Pepper belongs to the Capsicum chinense family of chilli peppers. Reportedly, Capsicum chinense, commonly known as a “habanero-type pepper”, is a species of chilli pepper native to the Americas (Wikipedia).
Origins of the Safi Bonnet Pepper
The Safi Bonnet Pepper is an African strain of the Scotch Bonnet Pepper but more specifically west Africa.
Countries of West Africa: Niger, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Benin, Senegal, Liberia, and The Gambia.
Taste and Flavour
The Hippy Seed Company states that the Safi Bonnet Peppers are known for their exceptional flavour and potent heat and that it’s a favourite among chilli enthusiasts. They also express that the Safi Bonnet Peppers delights the palate with its sweet and slightly fruity notes, and also boasts the distinctive bonnet flavour. They also say that it offers a unique combination of sweetness and heat, making it a standout choice for culinary enthusiasts.
Chili Pepper House, an Australian chilli pepper seed company, states that the Safi Bonnet pepper has fantastic flavour, and is one of the best-tasting chilli varieties they have ever tried.
Fatalli Seeds (fatalliseeds.net) – an online seed company, refers to the Safi Bonnet Pepper as rich, fruity flavour, significantly spicy, and offers a sweet, smoky undertone.
My personal take on its taste is this: smooth, mellow, pleasant, wonderfully flavourful, heat is not overwhelming, more fruitful than floral, has scotch bonnet flavour but more mellow, and somewhat sweetness taste, The Safi Bonnet Pepper also has a fruity and sweet flavour up front, before the heat hits. This pepper has a slight heat creep and is a new favourite of mine. It is a wonderfully tasting pepper with a “sweet heat” that makes it one of my top-tasting peppers.
Safi Bonnet Pepper Uses
Great uses in cooking whole in stews and gravies. Also great for sauces, and hot sauces.
Safi Bonnet Peppers are great to be used in powdered form like a sweet heat paprika.
I also find that it is excellent for coleslaw – look for this version of coleslaw that I will be calling Calypso Coleslaw on my website soon. It is coleslaw with diced Safi Bonnet Peppers, Jalapeno Peppers, and Orange Habanero Peppers.
Fatalli Seeds (fatalliseeds.net) – an online seed company, mentions that the Safi Bonnet Pepper is ideal for jerk dishes, salsas, and hot sauces and that its versatility extends to marinades and even adventurous desserts. They also note that whether incorporated into sauces, marinades or enjoyed fresh, their sweet and fruity flavour enhances the culinary experience.
Would be great for a dessert hot sauce. Ya, I said it – a dessert hot sauce. A dessert hot sauce can be used to stuff donuts; as a compote for cheesecake, pancakes, waffles, etc.
Other Characteristics
The Scoville heat units (SHU) – a measurement of heat for peppers – for the Safi Bonnet Peppers is 350, 000 – 500, 000 SHU. This means that they are relatively hot. A Jalapeno Pepper is approximately 2,500 – 80,000 SHU. This means that the Safi Bonnet Pepper is considerably hotter than a Jalapeno Pepper.
The Safi Bonnet Pepper pod matures from a light green to a bright, deep red colour (indicating its readiness for harvest) and the plant grows to about a meter high (3 feet high).
Compared to the Citron Pepper (please see my blog on them), the Safi Bonnet Pepper is less seeded. The Hippy Seed Company mentions that the Safi Bonnet has minimal seeds that ensure a smooth culinary experience.
As noted in the images below, the Safi Bonnet Pepper isn’t as seeded as some other chilli peppers. This being said, it may give rise to a less bitter-tasting chili pepper.
The Safi Bonnet Pepper thrives in warm, humid conditions, mirroring its Caribbean roots, and matures in 90 to 120 days, promising a rewarding yield for those who cultivate it. They are very easy to grow.
Conclusion
So, in conclusion, I hope you have enjoyed this blog and as a result, enjoy eating the Safi Bonnet Pepper as much as I did.
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